King College Symphonic Choir to repeat performance at Carnegie Hall
04.07.2006
The King College Symphonic Choir has been invited to return to New York City's Carnegie Hall on November 24 for a repeat performance of their 2004 Morten Lauridsen concert. Lauridsen, the composer of all the pieces performed in 2004 and those to be performed in 2006, requested the encore. "Being invited for a repeat performance may be the highest honor given to the Choir," said Dr. Pat Flannagan, chairman of King College's Performing and Visual Arts Department and conductor of the Choir. "It is such an honor for the students to sing at Carnegie Hall, the most famous concert hall in the world. Performing at Carnegie Hall is much like winning the Super Bowl for any type of performer."
Lauridsen has emerged as one of America's finest and most-beloved composers. His distinguished music has reached a permanent place in the standard vocal repertoire, and is performed regularly by choirs and vocal artists throughout the world. "O Magnum Mysterium" and "Dirait-on" from Les Chansons des Roses have become two of the highest-selling choral octavos in the 21st century. In addition to his residency with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Lauridsen is chair of the composition department at the University of Southern California School of Music in Los Angeles.
The King College Symphonic Choir will join with other groups to form a choir of about 150 singers to perform the pieces in conductor Timothy W. Sharp's "All-Lauridsen" program. Sharp is a former faculty member at King College. Currently he is chair of the department of music and is the Elizabeth G. Daughdrill chair in the fine arts at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., where he conducts the Rhodes Singers, MasterSingers Chorale and Rhodes Orchestra.
While staying in New York City, choir members are planning to see opera and Broadway shows, shop, and explore museums and the city.
